WEBVTT ROSS.ROSS: THE MALL MANAGERS SUDDENDECISION HAS CAUGHT PEOPLESADDENED AND SHOCKED.METROCENTER MALL IS CLOSING.FOR YEARS THE SOUTH JACKSON MALLWAS TO BE A PREMIER SHOPPINGDESTINATION FOR MISSISSIPPIFAMILIES.>> THIS IS A NICE MALL.I GREW UP COMING TO THE SMALL.I HATE TO SEE IT GO LIKE THIS.I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PART OFJACKSON.>> THE MALL ISN'T AS POPULAR ASIT USED TO EAT, BUT I'M KIND OFSHOCKED ABOUT THE WHOLE MALLORDEAL.IT IS ON SHORT NOTICE.ROSS: THURSDAY MALL MANAGEMENTSAID IT'S NOT RENEWING THELEASES OF MANY TENANTS.>> I'M SPEECHLESS TO BE HONESTWITH YOU.IT'S HARD.ROSS: AND THEY SAYMONTH-TO-MONTH LEASES WILLEXPIRE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.ROSS: WHEN DID YOU GET THE WORDTO GOING TO CLOSE?>> THEY SENT US A LETTER LASTWEEK.IT WAS VERY SHOCKING OR US.ROSS: SOME MALL TENANTS SAIDTHEY'VE GOTTEN MIXED MESSAGESABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.>> I HADN'T HAD ANY CONFIRMATIONFROM PEOPLE OVER THE MALL.IT HAS US IN A FLUX.ROSS: THE MALL MAY BE CLOSING,BUT BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WILLREMAIN OPEN.THEIR LEASE IS NOT CONNECTED TOTHE MALL OWNERS.AND THE OLD BELK BUILDING THATHOUSES THE JACKSON WATERDEPARTMENT AND OTHER CITYOFFICES IS OWNED BY LEROYWALKER, WITH RETRO METRO, ANDWILL REMAIN OPEN.WALKER SAID HE'S NOW NEGOTIATINGWITH THE OWNERS TO BUY THE RESTOF THE MALL.>> MY CONCERN IS THE EMPLOYEES,THE CITIZENS OF JACKSON, THEOVERALL IMAGE THAT WE AREPORTRAYING ON HIGHWAY 80 ANDWHAT WE NEED TO DO TO LAUNCH ADEBTOR BUSINESS DYNAMIC CLIMATEFOR OUR COMMUNITY.ROSS: MALL MANAGERS ARE ALSOCONSIDERING TEARING DOWN THEMALL AND CONVERTING TO

Current mall management is not renewing the leases of many tenants, and month-to-month leases will expire at the end of January, managing partner Tyler Oliver said.

"Metrocenter Mall will cease to operate as a retail shopping center later this year," Oliver said.

The area that houses the Jackson Water Department and other city offices is owned by Leroy Walker, with Retro Metro, and will remain open, operators said. Walker said he is negotiating with the owners to buy the rest of the mall.

"My concern is the employees (and) the citizens of Jackson (and) the overall image that we are portraying on Highway 80 and what we need to do to launch a better business dynamic (and) climate for our community," Walker said.

Burlington will remain open, because their lease is not connected to the mall owners.

"This is a nice mall, you know? I grew up coming to this mall. I would hate to see it go like this because I feel like this is a part of Jackson. This is basically the heart of Jackson," shopper Demetries Smith said.

Oliver said there are a number of possibilities for the mall property, including selling it and converting it to residential or office use, or for education or industrial purposes. It could also be torn down and rebuilt as residential or mixed-use property, he said.

"No firm decision has been made; however, we are open to whatever makes the most sense," Oliver said. "We have notified the businesses within the mall of our decisions and have offered to try to help them to relocate to other locations."

Metrocenter has struggled over the past several years, losing several anchor stores, including Sears, Belk and Dillard’s.

"Of course the mall isn't as popular as it used to be anymore," store manager Jayland Patrick said. "They're kind of shocked about the whole mall ordeal closing. It's kind of short notice."